YPCC 2023

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Cascade Engineering is hosting the 12^th Annual Young Professionals of Color Conference – Conquering Challenges and Celebrating Change, a professional development event for young professionals of color in West Michigan, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.  We are elated to partner with Corewell Health as our Platinum Sponsor and Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) as our venue location for our upcoming conference.

Over the last 3 years, the conference convened over 600 young professionals of color on a virtual platform. While this allowed us to keep this event going in difficult times, we are thrilled to return to an in person session and give our attendees the full conference experience, including the opportunity to make connections and build community.

Our keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Lisa Lowery, MD, an Adolescent Medicine specialist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital-Corewell Health Medical Group.  Dr. Lowery will provide discussion on the realities of institutional racism, along with an educational viewpoint for participants to be part of the change in bringing awareness to the realities of racism that people of color face today. 

In addition to the keynote, participants will have the opportunity to engage in small break-out sessions with local leaders focusing on seeking higher education, career building, financial growth, skill set development, and pathways to success.

We look forward to seeing you all in person!

PURPOSE

This conference is designed and centered for the next generation of leaders.  Young professionals of color from the West Michigan area are invited to learn what it takes to be successful in corporate America as a person of color. Presenters will include leaders from the Grand Rapids community, entrepreneurs and nation-wide speakers. Our goal is to have participants leave equipped with knowledge about topics including personal growth, professional development and leadership. 

AUDIENCE

This conference is designed and intended for young professionals under 40 who identify themselves as a person of color. 

PROPOSED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• As participants work through the day they will gain insight on what they can do to be effective in their current role, and how they can achieve future aspirations. 
• Create opportunities for professionals of color to learn from those who have achieved success in their careers.
• Address and provide strategies to overcome the barriers to success that can or may exist in today’s workplace, specifically for people of color.

AGENDA (tentative)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Lisa Lowery attended Michigan State University receiving her Bachelors of Science Degree in Microbiology, with Honors. Dr. Lowery then went on to receive her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. After medical school, she completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residency program at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Campus. Her desire to work with young people led her to complete a subspecialty research fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Her research during her fellowship concentrated on sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health. While at the Johns Hopkins, she obtained a Masters of Public Health in the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences with a Certificate of Concentration in Maternal and Child Health. Currently, Dr. Lowery is an Adolescent Medicine specialist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital-Corewell Health Medical Group. She has been on faculty since July 2004. Dr. Lowery also serves as Adolescent Medicine Section Chief; Division Chief of HDVCH Pediatrics Specialties; and Associate Program Director for the Combined Internal Medicine Program Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Campus. She is an Associate Professor Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Human Development.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Inclusive Leadership Skill Building: Mandice McAllister - Director of DEI, Warner Norcross + Judd

Navigating White Spaces For People of Color in the Workplace: Jennifer Coria - LLMSW, & Araceli Warners - LLMSW, DBT-C - Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services

Higher Education, Getting Into Graduate School: Tracey Brame - Assistant Dean, Cooley Law School; Carlos Sanchez - Executive Director of Casa Latina, Davenport University; Jessica Davison - Admissions Counselor, MSU College of Human Medicine; Trista Bergerud - Assistant Director of Programming and Communication, GVSU

Entrepreneurship Panel: Jamiel Robinson - CEO, Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses; Darel Ross, Owner, Forty Acres Soul Kitchen; Paola Andrea Carson - Owner, Pochis Sweet Designs; Jovan Naves - Owner, BAC Print

Resume Building, Interviewing & Salary Negotiation: Elena Van Drie, Recruiting Manager - Cascade Engineering

Foundations of Investing: Jeremy Payne - Senior Accountant - Cascade Engineering; Co-Founder & Treasurer - AYA Youth Collective